Fan construction for suction cleaners and the like



Sept. 22, 1942.- M, K SPE 2,296,351

FAN CONSTRUCTION FOR SUCTION CLEANERS AND THE LIKE Filed Mrch 15, 1939 2 Shets-Sheet 1 p 1942- E. J. KASPER 2,296,351

FAN CONSTRUCTION FOR SUCTION CLEANERS AND- THE LIKE Filed March 13, 1959 2 Sheets-{Sheet Patented Sept. 22, 1942 FAN CONSTRUCTION FOR sUo'rroN CLEANERS THE LIKE 4 Elmer J. Kasper, Cleveland, Ohio, asslgnorto The P. A. Geier Company, Cleveland, Ohio, a 'corporatlon of Ohio Application March 13, 1939, Serial No. 261.476 4 Claims. (01. 230-132) My invention relates to fan construction for suction cleaners and the like, where it is desired to move substantial volumes of air from the intake side of the fan throu h the fan and to the discharge side thereof, to create a sub-atmospheric pressure or suction as great as possible on theintake side of the fan, and to consume as small an amount of power as possible.

It is"a common expedient in connection with suction cleaner fan construction to locate one or more centrifugal fans within a tubular duct and to provide a circular baffle plate adjacent the discharge side of one ormore oi the fans, the circular periphery of the bafile plate being spaced from the inner usually cylindric surface of the tubular housing.

With this arrangement of one or more fans in a tubular duct onhousi'ng with one or more cirthan when the direction of cular baflie plates, the volume of air displaced, the degree of suction attained, and the power consumption required, has been not entirely satisfactory, in part, due to a swirling motion imfriction loss, a less degree of suction attained,

and a consequent increase of power consumption,

is more nearly'straight.

The objects of' the present improvements include'the provision of'an improved controlled air flow fan construction particularly adapted for suction cleaners andthe like, and which minimovement of the air parted to the air by the usual fan construction mizes swirling of the air passing therethrough by straightening the air flow, with a concurrent increase in the degree of suction attained, an increase in the amount of the air moved, and a reduction in the power consumption of the fan when in operation.

l 1 Further objects of the present improvements include; the provision of a-more eflicient controlled air flow fan construction having a simpliiled arrangement 'of parts permitting' economical manufacture andmaintenancea.

The foregoing and other objects, are attained by the fan construction, parts, combinations, and

sub-combinations, which comprise the present invention, and, the natureof which set forth in the followingigeneral statement, ,and preferred lowing description, and which are particularly and distinctly pointed out and set forth in the app nded claims forming part hereof;

membodiments of which are set forth in the, fol- I Y general direction of air flow therethrough, being The nature of the improved controlled air flow fan construction of the present invention may be stated in general terms as including a conduit or duct, preferably a cylin'dric tubular duct, one

or more preferably centrifugal fans rotatably mounted within the duct, preferably coaxially therewith, each fan having an intake side and a discharge size, and improved air flow controlling baille means located preferably closely adjacent to the discharge side of at least one of the fans, theimproved baflle means including a wall transversely extending across the opening of the duct, the outer peripheral portions of the transverse balile wall having formed therein preferably circumferentially spaced air passages,

preferably arcuate notches or openings, with radial deflecting portions between the notches or openings, the radial deflecting portions of the transverse baflle wall serving to break up and straighten out the swirling motion which is normally imparted to the air flowing through a centrifugal fan.

circumferentially spaced openings in one of the improved transversebaflle walls, such openings being located relatively close to the axis of rotation of the fan, to by-pass some of the air flowing through the fan so that the by-passed air discharges relatively close to the axis of rotation, but it is normally desired to attain the greater, volume of air flow closely adjacent the inner surface of the tubular duct or tubular housing means in which the fans are located and operate.

By way of example, embodiments of'the im-.

roved controlled airflow fan construction'of the present invention are illustrated in theaccom- .,panying drawings formed part hereof, in which Figure 1. is a side elevation of a tank type suction cleaner, including the presentl'mproved controlled air flow fan construction, with a fragmentary showing of the suction intake tube thereof and the electric power supply line thereof, the longitudinal axis of the tank. and the I distant parts removed as on after may be termed a horizontal tank type suction cleaner;

Fig. 2, an enlarged fragmentary view thereof with portions-broken away and shown in vertical section on the longitudinal axis of the cleaner, and other interior portions of the cleaner being shown in elevation;

Fig. 3, a fragmentary transverse sectional view thereof as on line 3-3, Fig. 2;

Fig. 4, a transverse sectional the present improved controlled air flow fan construction, with a fragmentary showing of the suction tube and the electric power supply line thereof, the longitudinal axis of the tank or tube being vertical and the general direction of air flow through the cleaner being along the vertical axis, and which for convenience in reference will be hereinafter designated a vertical tank type suction cleaner;

Fig. '7, an enlarged fragmentary view thereof with portions in section on a vertical plane including the vertical axis of the cleaner, and other interior portions of the cleaner being shown in elevation; 1

Fig. 8, a fragmentary transverse horizontal section thereof illustrating in detail a third embodiment of the improved baille means of the present invention; 1

Fig. 9, -a transverse horizontal sectional view thereof with distant parts removed illustrating a fourth embodiment of theimproved baflie means of the present invention; and

Fig. 10, a detached perspective view of the fourth embodiment of the improved baflle means.

Similar numerals refer to similar parts throughout the drawings.

In Figs. 1 to 5 inclusive there are illustrated a horizontal tank type suction cleaner indicated generally by H, and including embodiments of the present improved controlled air flow fan construction, in addition to other improvements which are not the subject matter of the present invention, together with other usual partsof a tank type suction cleaner.

The horizontal tank type suction cleaner includes asillustrated an elongated cylindric central filtering means housing tube I2- upon one A carrying handle indicated generally by 24 likewise has its opposite ends secured to-the central tube l2. and the fan unit 2|. An electric supply flexible cable 25 is associated with a control switch indicated generally by 23 and with the preferable electric motor 21 of the fan unit 2| in an operative manner not necessary for the purposes of the present improvements to be described in detail. 7

Th motor driven fan unit 2| including the present improved controlled air flow fan con- I struction, includes in addition to the motor 21, other parts all located within the interior of a preferably cylindric tube 28, which as shown is part of a one piece cup having a perforated transverse wall 28 extending across the extremity of its intake end 38 telescoped within the outlet end 3| of the central tube l2. Within the central end |3 of which a reducing flange cap I4 is bodiments of the present improvements, and the outer end of the fan unit 2| has removably secured thereon an outlet cap indicated generally by 22.

Runner rod supports 23, one for each side of the. cleaner have opposite ends secured as by tube |2 there is located filter bag means indicated generally by 32.

The motor 21 is located within the tube 28 and includes a frame indicated generally by 33 having an apertured circular flange 34 extending transversely across the interior of the tube 28, and from opposite sides of the circular flange 34 other parts of the motor frame extend; and mount the various parts of the motor including the shaft having the ian mounting end 35 which is coaxial with the longitudinal axis 36 of the alined motor housing tube 28 and central filtering means housing tube |2.

An inner fan tube 31 has one end secured as by screws 38 to the circular flange 34 and its other end provided with a wide inwardly extending annular flange wall 39.

Longitudinally spaced from the wide annular flange 39 towards the intake perforated wall 29 there is located a circular baflle wall 48 and between the wide annular'flang wall 39 and the circular baflle wall 48 there are interposed a plurality of angled deflector vanes 4|. The fan tube 31 is provided with an extension fan tube 42, one end of which is telescoped as shown over the intake end of the fan tube 31 having the inwardly extending transverse annular flange 39 thereon.

The extension fan tube 42 extends over the circular baflie wall 48 and is provided at its end adjacent the perforated intake wall 29 of the outer tube 28 with a wide inwardly extending annular flange wall 43.

A preferably resilient mounting ring 45 having an L-shaped cross section is interposed between the interior circular comer of the tube, 28 and the intake wall 29 and the exterior circular cornerof the tube 42 and the flange wall 43.

One of the improved transverse baflie walls of the present invention indicated generally by 44 is interposed between the motor frame 33 and the inwardly extending wide annular flange 39. The fan mounting end 35 of the motor shaft extends towards the perforated intake wall 29 through central apertures of the baiile wall 44, the wide annular flange wall 39, and th baflle wall 48.

A first fan compartment 46 is formed within the extension tube 42 between the wide annular flange wall 43 and the baflle wall 48; and a second fan compartment 41 is formed within the fan tube 31 between the wide annular flange wall 39 and the improved baflle wall 44.

A centrifugal fan indicated generally by 48 i screws to the central tube l2 and the fan unit 2|. compartment 41; and the fans. 48 are removably secured to the fan mounting end 35 of the motor shaft as by cooperating nut clamped collar and spacer collar means indicated generally b 56.

Improved balile cup means indicated generally by are telescoped within the discharge extremity 52 of the outer tube 26, and as shown there may be a resilient motor support pyramid indicated generally by 53 interposed between a central pyramidal portion 54 of the cup 5| and an adjacent cylindrical end 55 of the motor frame 33. a I

A filter fabric wall 56 may be as shown interposed between the interior of the outlet cap 22 and the flange cup 5l. The outlet cap 22 is provided with a central reduced outlet neck opening 51.

The centrifugal fans 48 as shown are identical in construction and each includes a discharge side disk 58 having a central aperture 5-9 fitting on the fan mounting end 35 of the motor shaft, an intake side annular disk 60 having a central intake opening 6 I, and preferably curved fan blades 62 interposed between the disks 58 and 60.

The intake opening 6| of .the fan 48 of the first fan compartment 46, as shown, is adjacent and registers with the opening 43I of the wide transverse flange wall '43; andthe intake openportions of the incoming air through its central" opening 43--I and the central opening 6I of the centrifugal fan 48 in the first fan compartment 46, and the rapidly rotating blades 62 of the fan 46 in the first fan chamber 46 displaces the incoming air outwardly between the disks 58 and 60 towards the inner cylindric surfaces of the'extension fan tube 42 which deflect the moving air about the circular periphery of the baffle wall 40 and radially inwardly towards the centrai opening 63 of the annular flange wall 39 where it enters the central opening 6| of the, centrifugal fan 48 in the second fan compartto one side or the other toward the notch poring 6| of the fan 48 in the second fan compartment 4! as shown registers with the adjacent opening 63 of the wide flange wall 39.

The improved baifle means 44 includes a transverse disk wall 64 having in its outer peripheries I a plurality of notches 65, as shown arcuate notches, formed therein by radial deflector tongue portions. 66 which are circumferentially spaced from each other, as are the arcuate notches 65; The radial deflector tongue portions or members 66 preferably extend to a close proximity with the inner face 61 of the tube 31.

The wall 64 has a central opening 68' fitting for the air flowing through the cleaner, part of g D which as it passes through the apertures 13 is aboutra cylindric endboss 69 on the intake side end of the motor frame 21, to which the bafile wall 64 is secured as by screw means 10.

. The improved baflie cup means 5|, shown in Fig. 5 removed, includes a cylindric stepped flange portion II from the outer end of. which extends inwardly a stepped bafile wall I2 having a plurality of circumferentially spaced outlet apertures 13 which as shownarearcuate in shapeand are separated from each other by circumferentially spaced radial deflector spoke portions or members 14. 7

Between the circumferentially spaced apertures I3 and the longitudinal axis 36 passing through the center of the cup 5| there is-provided a set of circumferentially spaced by-pass apertures 15 which as shown are circular in shape. i

The improved baille cup means 5| furthermore includes an outwardly extending bafile flange 16 secured upon the inner transverse stepped wall 11 and extending outwardly across and longitudinally spaced from the apertures 13. The radially extending flange "I6 preferably as shown is provided at its outer periphery with a cylindric outer flange 'l8.

The flow of air through the suction cleaner II is generally in the direction of the arrows I9 parallel with the longitudinal axis 36 of the machine from the time it enters the central tube I2 from the suction tube I9, and as it passes through the perforated intake wall 29 of the fan unit 2|.

The wide annular flange wall 43 of the extension fan tube 42 deflects the outer peripheral apertured motor frame circular flange 34 about themotor and through the circumferentially spaced apertures I3 of the cup 5| formed by the deflector spoke portion 14 which serve to turn aside or deflect the air toward the apertures 13 and thus act as additional straightening. means deflected radially outwardly by the flange 16 and part of which preferably is by-passed through the apertures I5 .of the cup means 5|,

serving to bag out. the fabric filter' wall 56, and also the by-passed air serving to cool'the motor bearing located in the frame of the motor 33 adjacent the end 55 thereof.

In Figs. 6 to 10 inclusive, there are illustrated a vertical tank type suction cleaner indicated generally by II I, and including embodiments of the present improved controlled air flow fan construction, in addition to other improvements which are not the subject matter of the present invention, together with other usual parts of a tank type suction cleaner. The vertical tank type suction cleaner I includes a general arrangement of parts similar to the horizontal tank type suction cleaner II.

In the vertical tank type suction cleaner III,

however, the flow of 'air therethrough after entering the cleaner through the suction'tube H9 is vertically upwards in the general direction of the arrow I19 where the air enters the inlet opening I62 of the fan housing indicated generally by |8(I, and the air also emerges vertically from the outlet fan housing I80.

The vertical tank type suction cleaner III includes an additional dome-shaped deflector shell indicated generally by I8I, enclosing the fan housing Hill.

The deflector shell |8|' is provided with an upper central outlet opening I82 and a removable closure I83 which as'shown is in place. .The deflector shell |8I has furthermore formed therein side outlet-openings I84, and when the parts of the suction cleaner III are in the relative positions shown in Fig. 7, after the vertically moving air discharges from the outlet neck opening I51 of the fan .housing I86, it is deflected by the interior surfaces of the closure I63 and the deflector shell I8I downwardly about the exterior neckopening I51 of the of the fan housing I88 and finally laterally outwardly through the outlet openings I84.

The suction cleaner I8I includes. in its fan housing I80 walls forming a first fancompartment I46 and walls forming a second fan compartment I41, there being a centrifugal fan in Fig. 8 includes a transverse disk wall, I64 having in its outer peripheries a plurality of circumferentially spaced arcuate openings I13 which are separated from each other by circumferentially spaced spoke portions I14.

Furthermore vertically and radially arranged deflector blades I85 are located between the arcuate apertures I13 for additionally straightening out the inward radial flow of air from the openings I13.

The fourth embodiment 244 of the improved baflle means, best shown in Figs. 9 and 10 includes a cup indicated generally by 286 and having a transverse disk wall 264 and a cup flange 281 extending at right angles to the disk wall 264 from the outer periphery thereof. The disk wall 264 is provided adjacent the flange 281 with a plurality of circumferentially spaced 'arcuate apertures 213 which are separated from each other by circumferentially spaced spoke portions 214.

The baffle means 244 further includes angle deflector bars 288 which are radially arranged at opposite sides of pairs of the arcuate apertures,

213, and each of which has a deflector blade 289 atright angles to the bafile wall 264 and extending radially from the flange 281 for straightening out and controlling the radial flow of air from the apertures 213 towards the vertical axis of the cleaner III.

Each of the tank type suction'cleaners II and I I I operate at a relatively high suction.

In each cleaner the use of the improved baflle means 44, I44 or 244 at the discharge side of the second fan 48 and of both fans I48, rather than the usual circular baflle walls such as the wall 40 for the first fan 48 of the cleaner II, produces the entirely unexpected results of increasing the degree of suction attained, increasing the volume of air moved, and reducing the .power consumption.

If for example in the suction cleaner II, the improved baflle means 44 includingthe wall 64 'with the circumferentially spaced arcuate notches 65 therein and the deflector tongues 66 are not I utilized, and only acircular baflle wall is used in the position of the improved baflle wall 64, m n

a suction of about 38" of water may be attained with the usual 110 volt suction cleaner fan motor. Utilizing the improved baille means increases the suction from 1 to 2 inches of water, the maximum increase being attained when each of a plu- .rality of fans such as the two fans I48 in the cleaner III are provided at their discharge side with-the improved baffle means I44 and 244 in which the radial deflector spokes I14 and 214 function in a manner similar to the deflector tongue portions 66 of the wall 64 of the cleaner I I,

In utilizing the present improved controlled air flow fan construction, suction has been increased substantially 5%, the volume of air moved has been increased about 4%, and with a reduction in the power consumption of about 4%, which results are entirely unexpected.

The embodiments of the present improvements illustrated and described herein are by way of example, and the scope of the present invention is notlimited to the same or to the particular details thereof, but is commensurate with the subject matter of the following claims, the elements of any of such claims being intended to include their reasonable equivalents.

I claim:

1. Controlled air flow fan construction for suction cleaners and the like, including walls forming a duct, a motor mounted within the duct and having a shaft, a fan mounted on the motor shaft within the duct and adjacent to said motor, the fan having an intake side and a discharge side, and =baflle means at the discharge side of the fan, the baflle means including a .wall between the motor'and the fan extending transversely across the duct and having a. plurality of circumferentially spaced transverse deflecting portions forming a plurality of circumferentially spaced air passages adjacent the duct.

2. Controlled air flow fan construction for suction cleaners and the like, including walls forming a duct, a motor mounted within the duct and having a shaft, a fan mounted on the motor shaft within the duct and adjacent to said motor, the fan having an intake side and a discharge side, and ibaflle means at the discharge side of the fan, the baflle means including a wall between the motor and the fan extending transversely across the duct and having a plurality of circumferentially spaced transverse tongues forming a plurality of circumferentially s'paced air passage arcuate notches in the wall adjacent the duct.

3. Controlled air flow fan construction forsuction cleaners and the like, including walls forming a duct a motor mounted within the duct and having a shaft, a centrifugal fan mounted on the motor shaft within the duct, the fan having an intake side and a discharge side, and battle means at the discharge side of the fan, the bafile means including a wall extending transversely across the duct adjacent to said motor and having a plurality of circumferentially spaced transverse deflecting portions forming a plurality of circumferentially spaced air passages adjacent the duct;

4. Controlled air flow fan construction for suction cleaners and the like, including walls forming a duct, a series of fans operatively mounted within the duct, each fan having j'an intake side and a discharge side, bafile means at the discharge side of each fan, each baffle means including a wall extending transversely across the duct and having a plurality of circumferentially spaced transverse deflecting portions forming a plurality of circumferentially spaced air passages adj cut the duct, and a motor driving said fans m unted within the duct closely adjacent to the discharge side of the battle means at the discharge end of said series of fans.

ELMER J. KASPER. 

